Changing Gun Laws in Our Missouri Constitution

This is a photo of me with my concealed carry license.  Should I have had to get one?  According to the U. S. Constitution "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."  What does that mean?
This is a photo of me with my concealed carry license. Should I have had to get one? According to the U. S. Constitution “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” What does that mean?

Most voters will read the ballot language on August 5th and think the question is whether you are pro-gun or anti-gun. In Missouri, most people are pro-gun, so based upon that, it will probably pass.

However, without adding anything, our Missouri Constitution already covers this situation. Article I, Section 23 says, “That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons.”

On a cold day at one of my favorite outdoor shooting ranges with one of my favorite gun instructors, Tim Oliver, near Columbia.
On a cold day at one of my favorite outdoor shooting ranges with one of my favorite gun instructors, Tim Oliver, near Columbia.

The proposed amendment does this:

1.) Adds ammunition and accessories.
2.) Removes the language about concealed weapons.
3.) Adds that new regulations are subject to “strict scrutiny”, but doesn’t define what “strict scrutiny” means.
4.) Makes some comments about mental health, but that is also not defined.

My take on it is that it should have been handled in the state statutes, not the constitution. Some people like putting laws into the constitution because it is more difficult to change.

Yet, the constitution is not for the small details. It should be for the larger ideology that defines the values and philosophy of our state. A lot of politicians like to use issues as fund-raising opportunities for their campaigns and so they can have bragging points or votes when it comes to election time.

The final question is this: If the legislators really wanted to show how pro-freedom and pro-gun they are, why didn’t they propose a constitutional amendment that declares no permits are required in Missouri? Currently in Missouri, a special permit is not required to carry a gun openly. Yet, the local sheriff’s departments have made a lot of money off the requirement that people must get a permit if they want a gun to be concealed. Some states do not require permits. The studies show that the crime rate decreases when more people have guns.

You can read more about this proposed change in our Missouri Constitution here:

If you want to share your thoughts on what this amendment is all about, please share your thoughts here: HomeFront@CynthiaDavis.net

We also invite you to call into our show or tune in on the Internet. This will be live and your opinions are welcomed.

What You Can Do:

1.) Listen to our show tonight at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

2.) Weigh in if you have a comment or a question. (347) 677-1835.

3.) If you know someone who needs to be enlightened with this message, share this newsletter. We need to be informed if we are going to make better decisions.

4.) Help us communicate. Any contribution will be used to help further our research to inform others. You can mail a check to Cynthia Davis, 1008 Highway K, O’Fallon, MO 63366.

 

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A Little Bit of Humor…

Changing Gun Laws 3

 

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